Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

Month of May Dedicated to Our Lady and a “Marathon” of Prayer to End the Pandemic

Saints: Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 7:1-4 Humility

Mass: Sirach 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17; Resp Ps 79; Mk 10:32-45

Deliver us and pardon our sins for your name's sake.

O GOD, SHOW US THE LIGHT OF YOUR MERCIES.

(Sirach 36:1)

Do you wish to be great? Then, as Jesus tells us in today's Gospel, we are to serve (Mk 10:43). So we listen to three great saints for some ways to go about our service. The first quotation is especially fitting as we begin Saint Benedict's chapter on humility. Indeed, whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted (Lk 14:11;18:14/RB 7:1). 

When we go to confession, we should accuse ourselves of our worst sins first, and of those things which we are ashamed of, because by this means we put the devil to greater confusion and reap more fruit from our confession. One of the very best means of obtaining humility is sincere and frequent confession.

(Saint Philip Neri)

It is an old custom of the servants of God to have some little prayers ready and to be frequently darting them up to heaven during the day, lifting their minds to God out of the mire of this world.

(Saint Philip Neri)

Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure if He wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength.

(Saint Philip Neri)

Rejoice in the Lord, not in the world. That is, rejoice in the truth, not in wickedness; rejoice in the hope of eternity, not in the fading flower of vanity. That is the way to rejoice. Wherever you are on the earth, however long you remain on earth, the Lord is near, do not be anxious about anything.

(From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, May 26)

SAINT PHILIP NERI,

SAINT BENEDICT,

SAINT JOSEPH,

MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: Hi friends, we're Max (l) and Millie (r), and belong to dear Stephanie and Mike, the former and Sister Gertrude have been friends for not too many years shy of 40. Can you imagine? We look like we've been up to a bit o mischief. And perhaps we have. At the same time, we think Saint Philip would like us, for he had a sense of humor. Although we aren't especially fond of cats, Philip Neri was. It is said that "when some of his more pompous penitents made their confession to him (he was famous as a confessor) he imposed salutary and deflating penances on them, such as walking through the streets of Rome carrying his cats (he was very fond of cats)." And there is more. "When a novice showed signs of excessive seriousness, Philip stood on his head in from of him, to make him laugh"! (Universalis, "About Today", May 26, 2021). 😉 

© Gertrude Feick 2021